Corporate careers are all-embracing and even the most brilliant managers may find this line of work a struggle. Still, leaving this world, whether by choice or circumstances, can create a vacuum and be a shock to the system. Whether you plan to launch your own enterprise, expect to retire, or think you might be laid off, it’s best to anticipate this seismic event. Here are some steps to take as you approach the end of our working life in the corporate sphere.

1. Plan from afar. We need to know what we’re going to do when we stop our corporate merry-go-round. This part of our life has been our identity or raison d'être for so many years. The longer we have been in corporate life, the more we have to plan and imagine a new future.

2. Know whom to trust. We need others to help us through this difficult transition, but they should be people who we can take into our confidence. Most people turn first to a spouse, children and close friends. A financial advisor can help chart a course for the next stage. It’s also a good idea to touch base with a health care professional or personal trainer who can help us manage the inevitable stress. Together they will be the foundation for our post-corporate life.

3. Work the system. Some of us are in the lucky position of having a boss who believes in us and our capabilities. Others feel treated as if we are a commodity. It doesn’t really matter because, at some point, it’s possible that our corporate career will end abruptly. We can’t fully control when that day is. Have your radar on and be observant of changes around you. That way you won’t be taken totally by surprise.

4. Optimize the final years. The best talent management processes ensure that an individual does an optimal job in the last years of his or her corporate life. With the rate of organizational change and the speed at which decisions are made, it’s hard for this to always be the case. Be bold about what you want to accomplish in the last phase before the finishing line.

5. Think through the handover. No one is indispensable, but you’ll leave everyone on a happier note if you help manage the transition. So think through and discuss with esteemed coworkers who is going to take over your role. Offer to prepare this person to do the job, and do it well. This is succession planning--talent management at work. It is best driven by the person who is letting go.

6. Create a real ending. Define the parameters of your departure. You can agree that, after a certain date, you will have no further involvement with the company. Or perhaps you will continue on as a consultant. If so, clearly define what the new arrangement will be, including how much work you will do and how you will be compensated.

7. Acknowledge the neutral zone. William Bridges, in his book Transitions, talks about the importance of endings before beginnings. Between the ending and the new beginning is the neutral zone. It’s critical that you and your employer agree about how long you will be in that neutral zone and what you’re expected to accomplish.

8. Value yourself. An announcement that you’re leaving can unleash a variety of reactions from colleagues and coworkers. Be gracious, but don’t let it stop you from detaching emotionally. Stay focused on your own needs and plans for the future. Just because your career there is finished, doesn’t mean that your life is over. Instead of looking back, look ahead to the next chapter.

9. Adjust your schedule. Recognize that the entity that consumed most of your time is now no longer there. You will need to fill that time with other pursuits.

10. Be patient. This may be the biggest change you’ve ever made. It’s natural to have mixed emotions. Loosening those bonds can be at once frightening and liberating. Embrace the challenges that lie ahead and don’t sell yourself short.